Undergarment with rapid donning and doffing capability whilst wearing pants and shoes

ABSTRACT

An undergarment having rapid donning and doffing capability without the wearer needing to remove his pants and shoes. The apparatus consists of a single unit of wearable fabric having a body portion and two identically long extending left and right leg segments. Three closure systems, containing male parts and female counterparts, are separated and sewn at opposite, respective sides of the undergarment. 
     The two sides of the body portion are wrapped around the waist in the front of the lower abdomen perpendicular to the waist and the closure system fastened thereupon enveloping the waist, buttocks, hips, and lower abdomen. Thereafter, the sides of the extending left leg segment are pulled around the leg and the closure system fastened along the inner leg thereupon enveloping the left leg. The same process is repeated on the right leg thereupon forming a complete undergarment. Dismantling simply means unfastening all the closure systems and removing the undergarment. 
     The fabric incorporated should retain body heat, control moisture, and be elastic so to stretch around the body. The closure systems could be any combination of zippers, snaps, and/or pile-type fasteners.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional (Utility) Patent Application is in regards to aprevious Provisional Application No. 61/121,898 which was filed on Dec.11, 2008.

The title of this Non-Provisional (Utility) Patent Application shouldreplace that of the Provisional Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This claimed invention relates to undergarments, specifically longunderwear also known as thermal underwear and long johns, used forcold-weather protection, and most specifically, undergarments that areeasily applied and removed without the need to remove the pants andshoes in order to do so.

2. Description of Prior Art

The use of undergarments for the sake of providing additional warmth andprotection to the legs of its wearer in cold weather is most commonlyreferred to as long underwear and are familiar in concept, function, anddesign varying mainly in fabrics and materials used in theirconstruction.

Whereas it is a vain attempt at keeping the legs warm by wearing onlypants in cold weather, therefore long underwear provide an additionalbarrier between the flesh and the pants of the wearer. Nevertheless,many people forgo wearing long underwear in cold weather because of theannoyances and tedious process that is involved with the wearingthereof.

Conventional long underwear is a type of undergarment most commonly madeof a soft fabric or thermally insulated fabric that is stepped into andpulled up around the waist. Generally, there is tight-fitting elasticaround the ankles to prevent the undergarment from riding up the legs.Upon removal, many times the socks of the wearer are pulled off as well.

The main deterrent of wearing long underwear is that indoors, the wearerbecomes overly heated with the wearing thereof. Yet, removing the longunderwear is not a simple, convenient task whereas the wearer must firstremove his pants and shoes in order to doff the long underwear. Thereinthe process becomes tedious having to remove the shoes, pants, and longunderwear and redress wherein the same scenario is repeated to go backoutdoors. Another issue is that conventional long underwear addadditional bulk, as they lie beneath the pants, often causing theundergarment to ride up the buttocks, legs, and crotch.

Known prior art pertaining to undergarments, especially long underwear,are U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,922 issued May 18, 1999 to Vargason; U.S. Pat.No. 3,800,330 issued April 1974 to Bowcut; U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,126issued Jul. 23, 1991 to Wruck et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,890 issuedJul. 7, 1998 to Shah.

Though these aforementioned patents may attempt to be successful fortheir intended purposes, and similarly offer an undergarment with quickdonning and doffing capability, they neither compete nor resemble thispresent invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With respect to all known prior art pertaining to undergarments,specifically long underwear, for cold-weather protection, it is theobjective of this present invention to provide a novel means for therapid donning and doffing thereof whilst wearing pants and shoes.

It is a secondary objective of this present invention to introduce anundergarment that is better contoured so to prevent the undergarmentfrom riding up the crotch, legs, and buttocks at the same time reducingadditional bulk.

Both the cut of the fabric and placement of closure systems are thenecessary components that make this invention novel and its objectivessuccessful.

The invention herein discloses a novel undergarment for cold-weatherprotection maintaining the inherent advantages of wearing long underwearnevertheless eliminating the deterrents discussed in the background ofthe invention, pertaining to the known prior art.

The present undergarment is a single cut and sewn unit of wearablefabric composing a main body portion with left and right extending legsegments.

Three closure systems containing male parts and female counterparts areseparated and sewn to opposite sides of the main body portion and to theleft and right extending leg segments.

Both sides of the main body portion are pulled around the waist meetingalong the middle of the lower abdomen and the closure system is fastenedthereupon enveloping the waist, hips, buttocks, and lower abdomen in theundergarment and thereafter leaving the left and right extending legsegments to dangle around the legs.

Both sides of the left extending leg segment are pulled around the legand the closure system fastened along the entire inner leg ending abovethe upper calf thereupon enveloping the left leg in the undergarment.

Both sides of the right extending leg segment are pulled around the legand the closure system fastened along the entire inner leg ending abovethe upper calf thereupon enveloping the right leg in the undergarment.

It is realized that the undergarment is formed and the body is envelopedtherein only after the closure systems have been fastened. The legs ofthe undergarment end below the knees and rest above the upper calvesenabling the wearer easy access to the closure systems after his pantsare pulled down and preventing the legs of the undergarment from ridingup the legs of the wearer.

It is also realized that when the undergarment is formed and the bodyenclosed therein that a natural void of fabric occurs under the groinwhere all the closure systems meet. This void prevents the undergarmentfrom riding up the crotch and buttocks whilst making the wearing ofunderwear beneath the undergarment both possible and comfortable.

The fabric used in the creation of this present invention should retainbody heat, control moisture, and be elastic. The cut of the fabric isgraded for sizing and cut to follow the natural contour of the body. Thetypes of closure systems incorporated in this invention are defined as,but not limited to, zippers, pile-type fasteners, and snaps and anycombination thereof may be employed.

In respect of the aforementioned objectives, this novel undergarmentshould neither be restricted to any particular fabric and/or closuresystems as to limit its maximum effectiveness nor should the fabricand/or closure systems differ so greatly that the objectives becomeunrealized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an open view of the outside surface of the undergarment withall three closure systems unfastened. The closure systems illustratedherein are zippers.

FIG. 2 is an open view of the inside surface of the undergarment withall three closure systems unfastened. The closure systems illustratedherein are zippers.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a human torso with legs enveloped within theundergarment with all three closure systems fastened. The closuresystems illustrated herein are zippers.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a human torso with legs enveloped within theundergarment with all three closure systems fastened. The closuresystems illustrated herein are zippers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In reference to FIG. 2, the design of this present undergarment is bestconceived. This novel undergarment is constructed from two panels ofwearable fabric 2 sewn together thereupon forming a single unit havingan approximate 12″ seam 4 and having a main body portion 12 andidentical left extending leg segment 14 and right extending leg segment16.

The main body portion 12 has a right side 21 and a left side 20 whereonthe male part 1 and female counterpart 3 of a closure system areseparated and sewn respectively.

The left extending leg segment 14 has a right side 31 and a left side 30whereon the male part 5 and female counterpart 7 of a closure system areseparated and sewn respectively.

The right extending leg segment 16 has a right side 41 and a left side40 whereon the male part 9 and female counterpart 11 of a closure systemare separated and sewn respectively.

Additional fabric 13 is sewn over the closure systems to reinforce andcover the exposed male and female parts 1,3,5,7,9,11 on the insidesurface therefore preventing contact with the flesh. An elasticwaistband 15 is sewn over the top of the main body portion 12 thereforeadding additional stretch to the undergarment.

In reference to FIG. 1, the utilization and formation of theundergarment are best demonstrated through the use of the illustration.

The left side 20 and right side 21 of the main body portion 12 arepulled around the waist so to meet perpendicularly to the navelthereafter fastening the male and female parts 1,3, to envelope thebuttocks, hips, waist, and lower abdomen.

The left side 30 and right side 31 of the left extending leg segment 14are pulled around the leg so to meet along the entire inner left legthereafter fastening the male and female parts 5,7 to envelope the leftleg.

The left side 40 and right side 41 of the right extending leg segment 16are pulled around the leg so to meet along the entire inner right legthereafter fastening the male and female parts 9,11 to envelope theright leg.

What differentiates this present invention from all other prior artregarding undergarments is the rapid donning and doffing capabilitywhilst remaining in pants and shoes. This undergarment is actuallyformed onto the body of the wearer whereas other undergarments requirethe removing of pants and shoes before stepping into and out thereof.While other prior art may have the same objective, this presentinvention makes maneuvering simple and efficient by allowing the wearerto simply pull down his pants, wrap the undergarment around his waist,fasten the closure systems and pull up his pants. Removing theundergarment is even easier allowing the wearer to pull down his pants,unfasten the undergarment, and pull up his pants. Since the undergarmentis a single unit, there are no lost pieces to worry about or assemblyrequired.

The present invention also contains a naturally occurring void of fabricunder the groin preventing the undergarment from riding up the crotchand buttocks.

The length of the legs of the undergarment are also cut so to rest abovethe upper calves allowing easy access to the closure systems andpreventing the undergarment from creeping up the legs of the wearer.

The fabric should retain body heat, control moisture, and be elasticwhile the closure systems incorporated may be any combination ofzippers, snaps, and/or pile-type fasteners. Minor changes in placementof closure systems and fabric may occur due to individual sizes.

1. An undergarment comprising a single unit of wearable fabric whereonthree closure systems each having a male part and female counterpart aresewn to the inner surface thereof; said unit is formed from twoidentical panels of continuous fabric sewn together thereafter forming aseam in the middle of said inner surface approximately 12″ in length;said unit contains a main body portion and identically long left andright extending leg segments; said body portion is reinforced with 2″high waistband sewn at the top thereof; said fabric is measured and cutso that when the undergarment is formed it fits the contour of the ofthe legs, waist, buttocks, and hips; said closure systems are one shortset and two identically longer sets; whereby each said set contains asaid male part and said female counterpart; said body portion has acontinuous right side and left side; whereupon a said male part and saidfemale counterpart are separated and sewn respectively to the said rightside and said left side of the said body portion; said left and rightextending leg segments each have a right side and left side; whereupon asaid male part and said female counterpart are separated and sewnrespectively to the said right side and said left side of the said leftextending leg segment; whereupon a said male part and said femalecounterpart are separated and sewn respectively to the said right sideand said left side of the said right extending leg segment; saidundergarment envelops the hips, buttocks, waist, and lower abdomen afterboth said sides of said body portion are wrapped around the waist andthereafter the said closure system fastened perpendicularly to thenavel; wherein said left and right extending leg segments dangle aroundthe respective legs; said undergarment envelops the left leg after bothsaid sides of the said left extending leg segment are wrapped around theleg and thereafter the said closure system fastened along the inner leftleg; said undergarment envelops the right leg after both said sides ofthe said right extending leg segment are wrapped around the leg andthereafter the said closure system fastened along the inner right leg;said undergarment is naturally void of said fabric around the groinafter all three closure systems have been fastened; said undergarmenthas a said inside surface and an outside surface whereby the insidesurface is in contact with flesh; said male and female parts of saidclosure systems protrude just beyond said sides of said undergarment soto fasten the said closure systems from the said outside surface; saidbacks of said male and female parts of said closure systems are coveredby fabric on the said inside surface so to not contact the flesh.
 2. Anundergarment in which the said closure systems as defined in claim 1 arezippers whereby the said male parts of said closure system contain aslider to connect the teeth of said male and female parts.
 3. Anundergarment in which the said closure systems as defined in claim 1 arepile-type fasteners whereby said male parts of said closure systems aresewn on the said outside surface so to overlap with its femalecounterpart.
 4. An undergarment in which the said closure systems asdefined in claim 1 are snaps whereby the said male parts of said closuresystems protrude through said inside surface of said undergarment;whereby the said female counterparts of said closure systems protrudethrough the said outside surface of said undergarment.